Poll: Majority still approves of drilling, but concern for environment on rise

Despite the recent oil rig explosion and massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a new poll shows that a solid majority of Americans still thinks offshore drilling should be allowed.

Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed by Rasmussen Reports favor offshore drilling for oil, 23 percent are opposed and 19 percent are not sure.

That’s a more than 10-point dip from a poll conducted on March 31 and April 1, when 72 percent of those polled said offshore drilling should be allowed.

Another shift: 69 percent of Americans now say they are at least “somewhat” concerned about the environmental risks of energy exploration.

The new results come during a continued oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico after an Apr. 20 explosion on the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon.

The polls each surveyed 1,000 likely voters nationwide. The latest poll was conducted on May 4 and 5.

Alex Mills, president of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, said the fact that a majority still support offshore drilling after a major spill shows that people understand the economic and strategic importance of oil production.

“There’s no doubt that the loss of human life and damage to the environment is terrible, but again, I think the public understands that this is something that we have to be doing in the future,” he said.

To garner more public understanding, Mills said that organizations such as the Foundation for Energy Education have been running media campaigns to emphasize the importance of oil drilling.

Juan Parras, community outreach and environmental justice director for Citizens League for Environmental Action Now in Houston, said such campaigns are the reason for majority support for offshore drilling.

While environmental groups don’t have the cash to advertise widely on television, oil companies “have the money to advertise,” Parras said.

He said many people think of oil drilling as inevitable, but with the use of U.S. oil reserves and a push for alternative forms of energy, that might not be the case.

“Most people agree that we have to start addressing their environment,” Parras said.

The poll shows 34 percent of likely voters are very concerned about new offshore drilling causing environmental problems, a number up from 18 percent at the end of March.

But Zac Trahan, program director for Texas Campaign for the Environment, said it’s too soon after the Gulf Coast oil spill to test for public opinion.

While officials estimate that the damaged oil well is sending 5,000 barrels a day into the ocean, it’s difficult to tell the real size, he said.